UPSC Prelims 2008 Q25: Environment & Ecology – Protected Areas & Wildlife
Consider the following statements:
1. Salt - water crocodile is found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
2. Shrew and tapir are found in the Western Ghats of the Malabar region.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation
Checking two claims about Indian wildlife distribution
These statements examine specific species' actual habitats within India.
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Salt-water crocodile found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Correct | The Salt-water crocodile is indeed found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, among other coastal/estuarine habitats |
| 2. Shrew and tapir found in the Western Ghats of the Malabar region | Incorrect | While shrews may occur in India, the tapir is NOT found in India at all — tapirs are native to South America and Southeast Asia, not the Western Ghats |
Correcting the second claim:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Salt-water crocodile | Andaman and Nicobar Islands — accurate |
| Tapir | NOT found in India; native to South America/Southeast Asia |
Answer: (a) 1 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. The salt-water crocodile's Andaman and Nicobar presence is accurate; the tapir claim is false, as tapirs are not found in India.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 2's tapir claim is false, so '2 only' is wrong.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 2 is inaccurate, so 'both' cannot be correct.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 1 is accurate, so 'neither' is wrong.
Key point
The salt-water crocodile is genuinely found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands — but the TAPIR is NOT found in India at all; it's native to South America and Southeast Asia, making statement 2 false.
Remember
Salt-water crocodile: genuinely found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Tapir: NOT found in India at all.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the tapir, as an exotic-sounding animal, might be found in India's Western Ghats.
- Not knowing the tapir's actual South American/Southeast Asian native range.
- Confusing the Western Ghats' genuine fauna with species found only elsewhere.
Exam tip
Tapirs are NOT found in India at all — they're native to South America and Southeast Asia, a common wildlife-geography trap.
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — saltwater crocodile
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — tapir